Recreational vehicle slide out roof block

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/124,310, filed Apr. 16, 2008.

The present invention relates to a device for preventing the accumulation of rain, dirt, and debris on the roof of a slide out on a recreational vehicle.

Motor homes, slide-in truck campers, camper vans, travel trailers, and other recreational vehicles may be equipped with a movable section known as a “slide out”. A slide out is a movable structure that may be extended outward from an external wall of the recreational vehicle (RV), thereby increasing interior space in the RV. The slide out may be retracted back into the RV so that the RV remains below the maximum size limits for a vehicle to be moved on public roads. Some slide outs include a roll-out awning that extends automatically when the slide out is extended and rolls up automatically when the slide out is retracted. The roll-out awning extends above the roof of the slide out and is provided in part to prevent rain and debris from accumulating on the roof.

FIG. 2 shows a pictorial view of an example of an RV slide out. In FIG. 2, a slide out 10 may be seen extending outward from an outer vertical wall 12 of a part of the coach section of an RV. The slide out 10 includes two vertical side walls 14 (only one visible in FIG. 2), a vertical outer wall 16, a floor (not shown), and a roof 18. Any of the vertical walls of the slide out 10 may optionally have one or more windows, for example a window 22 in the outer wall 16. A roll-out awning 24 extends over the slide out roof 18 from the outer vertical wall 12 of the RV and may extend past the walls (14, 16) of the slide out. The roll-out awning 24 includes an awning sheet 26 attached on one side to a tensioning and retraction mechanism 28, which keeps the awning sheet 26 taut and winds the awning sheet 26 in a roll when the slide out 10 is retracted. A slide out seal 20 prevents water, dirt, and debris from entering the interior of the RV.

Many slide outs with roll-out awnings have a substantial gap between the underside of the awning sheet 26 and the slide out roof 18, as shown in FIG. 2. The gap, which may be from about two to about six inches (five to fifteen centimeters) high, is present along both sides of the slide out. Even though the awning sheet 26 may extend over the sides of the slide out roof 18, rain, dust, leaves, and other debris may enter through the gaps and accumulate on the roof, especially in windy conditions. Dirt and debris on the slide out roof 18 may damage the slide out seal 20 when the slide out 10 is moved or prevent the slide out 10 from fully retracting.

To prevent damage to the slide out seal and slide out, it is routine practice to clear the slide out roof of dirt, debris and standing water before retracting the slide out. However, the slide out roof may be higher than a person can reach from the ground, so a ladder and long-handled broom are often used to clean the roof. The longer and higher the slide out roof, the more difficult and time-consuming it is to clean. Furthermore, ascending a ladder to clean a slide out roof may be unpleasant or even unsafe in wet or windy conditions or where the ground is soft or uneven. What is needed is a device for preventing debris from entering the gap between the awning and the slide out so that the slide out roof remains clean. What is further needed is a device that may be easily installed and retrieved by a person standing on the ground. What is also needed is a device that may easily be stored in a cabinet, drawer, or bin of a size commonly found in recreational vehicles.

Embodiments of the present invention comprise a slide out roof block for preventing foreign material such as rain, dirt, and debris from accumulating on a slide out roof on a recreational vehicle. A slide out roof block in accord with the present invention has a height which is equal to or slightly greater than the height of a gap between the underside of a roll-out awning and the slide out roof and a length that is equal to or slightly greater than a length of the gap along a side of the slide out roof. Some embodiments have upper and lower surfaces which are approximately parallel. Other embodiments are wedge-shaped to match an angle between a roll-out awning and a slide out roof. The slide out roof block is made from compressible materials to fit snugly into the gap and effectively prevents water, dirt, and debris from entering the gap. Slide out blocks are preferably used in pairs, with a first slide out roof block installed along a roof edge on a first side of the slide out and a second slide out roof block installed along a roof edge on a second side opposite the first side. Optionally, more than one slide out roof block may be installed end-to-end along a side of a slide out roof to fill the gap on a slide out that extends far from the side of the RV.

Embodiments of a slide out roof block include a rain flap along the bottom of a long side of the slide out roof block to prevent water from entering the contact area between the bottom of the slide out roof block and the outside surface of a slide out roof. The rain flap also has the function of providing a depth stop for a preferred installation position of a slide out roof block along an edge of a slide out roof. In some embodiments, one or more hollow pole sleeves are attached to the side of the slide out roof block with the rain flap. A pole sleeve enables a person standing on the ground to install or retrieve a slide out roof block by inserting the end of a long pole such as a broom handle into the pole sleeve and lifting, pushing, or pulling on the slide out roof block. A pole sleeve may optionally extend over the rain flap to stiffen the rain flap and aid in correct positioning of a slide out roof block on a slide out roof. A ferrule may optionally be included inside a pole sleeve to hold the pole sleeve open and to stiffen the pole sleeve and rain flap. More than one pole sleeve may optionally be provided to facilitate installation, for example by using two poles simultaneously in separate pole sleeves.

In some embodiments, a slide out roof block comprises a water-resistant cover enclosing a polymer foam core. A cover may optionally include one or more cover fasteners to permit the cover to be removed for cleaning or replacement. In some embodiments, the polymer foam core is closed-cell foam and in others the polymer foam core is open-cell foam. Other embodiments have an airtight cover, an inflation valve, and an open-cell polymer foam core so that the slide out roof block may be deflated and compressed for storage and reinflated for use. Some embodiments having an airtight cover and an inflation valve omit a polymer foam core and are inflated with air for use and deflated for storage. Yet other embodiments comprise a closed-cell foam block without a cover.

This section summarizes some features of the present embodiment. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the embodiments of the invention will become better understood with regard to the following description and upon reference to the following drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an example of a slide out roof block, showing a front side, a bottom side, and an end, with and further showing a rain flap along a bottom edge of the front side and two pole sleeves attached to the rain flap and the front side.

FIG. 2 is pictorial view of a portion of a recreational vehicle including a slide out with a roll-out awning, showing a gap between the roll-out awning and the roof of the slide out. (PRIOR ART)

FIG. 3 is a front view of an example of a slide out roof block.

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